Construction of insoles for shoes



Jan. 9, 1951 J. E. GATES 2,537,823

CONSTRUCTION OF INSOLES FOR SHOES Filed March 29, 1947 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement applicable to the construction of insoles for shoes, having for its object the prevention and relief of painful callouses and corns occuring at the line of pressure where the fleshy portion along the sides of the foot comes in contact with the line of juncture of the insole and the side wall of shoes as now constructed. It is noted that the offset or angle so formed opens and closes under pressure of walking, causing the fleshy portion of the foot to be alternately pinched and released with each step, promoting the development of the callouses and corns referred to.

My invention eliminates the offset or angle between the side wall of the shoe upper and the insole at the line of juncture by providing a continuous, rounded, cushion surface to the insole along the side pressure areas, curving upward and outward against the side wall of the shoe to conform to the natural curve of the foot.

The invention having the aforementioned object can best be carried into practical effect as described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe with the improved construction according to this invention, with por tions of the upper broken away to show internal construction; and Figure 2 is a view in crosssection through the shoe at its ball section.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing, a cushion insert 2 of rubber or like material, is built into the base structure of the shoe, extending upward between the side wall 3 and the edge of the insole 4.

The longitudinal location of the insert 2 is at the bulge along the side or sides of the shoe where the flesh of the ball of the foot exerts its greatest outward pressure. The invention may apply to either or both sides of the shoe, but is designed in particular for the outer side where foot pressure is often greatest.

The upper inside surface I of the insert extends the surface of the conventional type insole, as an unbroken surface curving upward against the side wall; and the insert 2 tapers to a feather edge at the top. The opposite or outer side of the insert conforms to and rests against the inside surface of the wall 3 of the shoe and extends upward from its fixed base 5 to the feather edge hereinabove referred to.

The lower inside surface of the insert 2 is broken throughout its length by a V-shaped groove 6 just above the base, into which the edge of the insole fits snugly; the latter being wedgeshaped to conform to the groove in the base of the insert; the two being cemented or otherwise securely joined, as described hereinbelow.

The thickness of the insert 2 at its base 5 should be on the order of one-eighth inch and the length about two inches, more or less, according to the manufacturers preference, and the shoe size and design. The height preferably is approximately one-half inch above the level of the insole intermediate its ends, tapering to zero at each end.

The insert preferably is cemented to the edge of the insole to form an extension so that the insole will have a smooth, curved and unbroken upper surface. Preferably it is also further attached by stitching 8 through the edge of the insole from a stitching channel 7 in its under surface, thence through the insert base, sidewall structure and welt 9, which, in turn, is attached to the outsole [0 in the conventional manner, as by stitching indicated at I I.

It will be understood that the insert 2, being securely fastened at 6 to the insole edge, in ac cordance with this invention, and being a pliable cushion of rubber, will prevent the pinching of the fleshy ball of the foot into a sharp ridge such as frequently occurs at the point of juncture of the insole and upper, or sidewall, of conventional prior art shoes.

It will be further understood that the particular embodiment illustrated and described herein is by way of example, and that my invention includes such modifications and equivalents as may readily occur to persons skilled in the art to which it appertains, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a shoe construction, an insole having a lateral edge beveled from its upper surface along a substantial part of its ball section, a cushion insert having a base portion abutting said beveled lateral edge of said insole and firmly bonded thereto throughout the length of said insert, said insert having a flaplike upper portion with an inner surface curving concavely outwardly and upwardly from said beveled edge of said insole.

2. A shoe construction comprising an insole having a lateral edge extension of relatively soft resilient rubbery material bonded integrally to its lateral edge along a substantial part of its ball section, the upper inward surface of said extension curving outwardly and upwardly as a smooth concavely curved extension of the upper surface of said insole and joining the laterally outer surface of said extension in a feather edge.

JAMES E. GATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Diamant Feb. 1, 1949 

